Heat exchange system

ABSTRACT

A heat exchange system and method for heating outside air provided to a structure are disclosed. The system uses and recovers heat from waste products that are being exhausted from the structure. A heated products source generates heated waste products as a result of combustion. An exhaust duct passes the heated waste products through a heat exchanger before exhaustion from the structure. An intake duct that supplies fresh outside air to the structure also passes through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger couples the exhaust duct and the intake duct and transfers otherwise unused heat from the waste products to the outside air to increase the overall efficiency of the heated product source.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part application of applicationSer. No. 09/546,138 filed Apr. 10, 2000, which application isincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to heated product sources located within astructure that generate waste products of combustion. In particular, thepresent invention relates to using a heat exchange system to transferheat from the waste products of combustion to outside air being suppliedto the structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many structures, such as residential, commercial and industrialbuildings, include gas and electric appliances, such as furnaces, hotwater heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, and fireplaces that produceheated products when gas/air mixtures are combusted or heat isgenerated. The heated products of combustion or generated heat cancontain waste products, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, excessheat, and/or particulates. For example, waste products are produced fromheating water in a hot water heater such as carbon dioxide, carbonmonoxide, and excess heat. An occupant could die if waste products, suchas carbon monoxide, reach too high of levels within the structure. Inanother example, a gas or electric kitchen stove can generate unwantedheat and smoke to an uncomfortable level, making it desirable to removethe waste products from the structure. Therefore, these waste productshave to be removed from the structure to provide a safe breathingenvironment and comfortable atmosphere for occupants, while allowingmake-up air to be delivered back into the structure in proper proportionto meet air quality requirements.

Presently, exhaust systems do not make an efficient use of waste productheat before exhaustion from the structure. The waste products areexhausted with little or no heat exchange with the structuralsurroundings or cold make-up air that is being brought into thestructure. Therefore, the overall efficiency of the appliances isreduced because the waste gases are exhausted from the structure at atemperature greater than the temperature within the structure. Theresult is a less efficient appliance and increased heating and energycosts.

The present invention addresses the increased costs and decreasedefficiency associated with failing to effectively use the heat containedwithin waste gases generated from heated products sources, such asappliances. The present invention provides a novel heat exchange systemthat uses the heat of waste exhaust gases to increase the temperature offresh air as well as increase the overall efficiency of a heated productsource that is in use within a structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to a heat exchange system thatuses and removes heat from waste products being generated by a heatedproduct source and exhausted from a structure. The heated exchangesystem provides a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the wasteproducts to fresh outside air being supplied to the structure.

In one respect, the invention relates to a heat exchange system forheating outside air provided to a structure. The heat exchange systemincludes an exhaust duct to remove heated waste products generated by aheated products source from the structure. An intake duct suppliesoutside air to the structure. A heat exchanger couples the exhaust ductand the intake duct to transfer heat from the heated exhaust products tothe outside air.

In another respect, the invention relates to a heat exchange system forheating outside air provided to a structure. The heat exchange systemincludes an exhaust duct to remove heated waste products generated by aheated products source from the structure. An intake duct suppliesoutside air to a room supply duct of a furnace housed within thestructure. A heat exchanger couples the exhaust duct and the intake ductto transfer heat from the heated exhaust products to the outside air. Acontroller and a pair of in-line blowers are coupled to the heatexchanger to regulate air quality within the structure, wherein thecontroller independently controls each of the in-line blowers.

In another respect, the invention relates to a heat exchange system forheating outside air provided to a structure that includes a commonexhaust duct to remove heated waste products generated by two or moreheated products sources from the structure. A heat exchanger couples thecommon exhaust duct to an intake duct that supplies outside air to thestructure. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the heated exhaustproducts to the outside air.

In another respect, the invention relates to a method heating outsideair supplied to a structure including generating heated waste productsof combustion, passing the heated waste products into an exhaust duct,conducting the heated combustion products through a heat exchanger,passing outside air into an intake duct and conducting the outside airthrough the heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heated combustionproducts to the outside air.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describeeach disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the presentinvention. The Figures and the detailed description that follow moreparticularly exemplify embodiments of the invention. While certainembodiment of the invention will be illustrated in describingembodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to use insuch embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic drawing in front elevation of a prior artdirect vent fireplace with a convection heat exchanger;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic drawing in front elevation of a prior artdirect vent fireplace with a fire tube air heat exchanger and ahigh-speed blower;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic drawing in side elevation of a direct ventfireplace adapted to deliver heat from its heat exchanger to a duct orducts of a central heating system for distribution to all rooms in ahouse;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic drawing in front elevation of a co-linearfireplace having a quiet blower in its heat exchanger and a remoteblower for supplying outside fresh air for combustion as well as excessfresh air to the heat exchanger for supplying fresh make-up air inconformance with new air quality standards;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a fireplace adapted toheat room air in its heat exchanger and to deliver the heated air intothe return air duct of a central heating system and is shown having aremote air pump for supplying a predetermined amount of fresh make-upair to the house;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a draft-assisted orpower-vented direct-vented fireplace adapted to use room air forcombustion and to dilute the exhaust gases;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a co-linear fireplaceadapted to pass its hot exhaust gases through a remote heat exchangerused to heat room air in a house as it passes into the return air ductof a central heating system;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a heat exchange systemadapted to use heated waste combustion products to heat outside airbeing brought into a structure;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a heat exchange systemadapted to use heated waste combustion products to heat outside airbeing brought into a furnace supply duct of a structure; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a heat exchange systemin operation in a home having multiple heated products sources.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is applicable to heat exchange systems for use instructures. In particular, the invention is directed to transferringheat from waste combustion products that would otherwise go unused priorto exhaustion from the structure, which increases the overall efficiencyof the source of the waste products.

Referring to FIG. 1, a top direct vent fireplace 10 of the type having acoaxial pipe comprising an exhaust pipe 11 and a fresh intake air pipe12 is shown. The fresh outside air is burned in the center of thefireplace 10 in combustion chamber 13 and subsequently exhausted backout the center exhaust pipe 11 so that no inside air is required for thecombustion products. Such gas fireplaces are sold by Heat-N-GloFireplace Products, Inc. of Lakeville, Minn. under Model Number 600DVT.Such fireplaces are provided with a heat exchanger which passes underthe combustion chamber around the back of the combustion chamber andcomes out at the top to provide an efficient convection and radiantheating system. The intake for the heat exchanger is shown at numeral 14and the outlet of the heat exchanger is shown at numeral 15.

Referring to FIG. 2, a front elevation of a direct vent fireplace 20having an air intake pipe 12 and an exhaust pipe 11 is shown. Thecombustion gases produced in the combustion chamber 13 are passed into aplenum 16 which connects to fire tubes 17 which exits into an upperplenum 18 and then passes out through the exhaust stack 11. To create aheat exchanger, a supply duct from the room(s) 19 is connected to theheat exchanger box and the air is heated by the hot fire tubes 17 andexits into the hot air return duct 21 with the assistance of aninduced/forced draft fan or blower which, by nature of its operation andlocation, is noisy.

It has been found that consumers who buy prefabricated fireplaces willtolerate low speed quiet blowers in the heat exchangers of the systemshown in FIG. 1, but are not quite as tolerant of a noisy high speedblower of the type shown in the prior art fireplace of FIG. 2. Anotherdisadvantage of the FIG. 2 embodiment is that the heat exchanger systemis mounted on top of the fireplace 20 and often makes the mantel or topshelf of the fireplace inordinately high and unattractive if it isprovided.

Referring to FIG. 3, a direct vent fireplace 30 is shown adapted todeliver heat from its heat exchanger to a supply duct or return duct ofa central heating system for distribution to all rooms or specific roomsin a house. The fireplace 30 is shown comprising an inlet 12A forsupplying fresh air into fresh air passage 24 which extends under floor25 at burner 26 for burning gases in combustion chamber 13 whichsurround logs 27. In the preferred embodiment, the intake air passage 14and lower passageway 14A connect into rear heat exchanger passage 23which connects into upper passageway 15A for supplying heated room airout of the outlet 15.

However, when the system is employed to deliver hot air into duct 28,damper 29 is opened and hot air can be supplied to the return duct 35.In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when heated roomair is being supplied via duct 28 into duct 35 the blower motor 32 isnot enabled or activated because the return air duct is capable ofpulling the air to the central heating system not shown. In the eventthat the closest duct available is a supply duct, it is necessary toforce the air into the supply duct using a forced draft fan 31.

The advantage of fireplace 30 is that the blower motor 32 is a veryquiet low speed motor and is only used when fireplace 30 is used in itsconventional mode to take air in inlet 14 and exhaust heated air outoutlet 15. In all other modes, the motor 32 may be disabled by switches33 or 33A. As an alternative, it is possible to connect duct 28 to adirect duct which exits into a remote room having an induced draft fanwhich is actuated by controller 34. The controller 34 may actuate theremote controller RC and used to actuate the damper 29.

Referring to FIG. 4 showing a co-linear fireplace 40 having aconventional heat exchanger where the inlets and outlets 14 and 15 areshown and are connected by a passageway like passageway 23, shown inFIG. 3, in the rear of the combustion chamber 13. In this embodiment, aremote blower 37 is shown having an intake pipe 36 connected to anoutside source of fresh air which is pumped into the fireplace 40. Thenecessary amount of combustion air is supplied by supply pipe 38 and theremainder of the outside fresh air which comprises the make-up air issupplied into the heat exchanger by branch 39. Thus, the outside freshair being forced into the heating system is preheated by the heatexchanger and supplied directly into the same room with the heatexchanger. When the fireplace 40 is of sufficient capacity, all of theoutside air is heated above room temperature so that the system operatesefficiently to preheat the make-up air as well as supply diluted heatedroom air to the room in which the fireplace 40 is located. In thisembodiment, a control 42 in fireplace 40 operates the remote blowermotor 37 at a predetermined speed to supply the necessary make-up airinto the chamber shown at inlet 14, 14A.

Referring to FIG. 5, a direct vent fireplace 50 having a supply duct 43which connects into the heat exchanger of the fireplace 50 is shown. Theduct 43 supplies room air at approximately 270 degrees Fahrenheit to thereturn air plenum or duct 44 which terminates at the central hot airfurnace 45. The furnace 45 is provided with a blower (not shown) andheats the air received and supplies it in the supply duct 46 to therooms to be heated. An air conditioning coil 47 is shown connected intothe supply duct 46, but is not used during the heat season. Aftersupplying the heated air to the rooms, the individual return ducts fromthe rooms are connected back into the return air plenum 44 and sincethere is a negative pressure provided at the central heating system 45no additional fan is needed to pull this return air back to the centralair furnace. The furnace blower is preferably on when fireplace 50 ison.

In order to supply the necessary make-up air or quality replacement airfor the home, a remote air pump 48 is shown connected to an outsidesource of fresh air. In the preferred embodiment, the remote air pump 48is located in a basement area. Basement air and the fresh air enter thereturn 44 and do not overly cool any particular isolated room. In thisembodiment, the fresh air in a tight home is circulated through the ductsystem to the individual rooms and is preheated with the air in thereturn duct 44. Further, the outside fresh air that is passed into theroom in which the fireplace 50 is located passes through the heatexchanger 14, 15 and is heated before it passes into duct 43 and thereturn air plenum duct 44. Since the remote air pump 48 can produce apositive pressure in a tightly sealed house, it is preferred that ableeder 49 be located at an area completely remote from the air pump torelieve this positive pressure inside of the house.

Referring to FIG. 6, a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a draftassist or power vent direct-vented fireplace 60 adapted to use room airfor combustion and for dilution of exhaust gases which in turn arepassed through a novel heat exchanger is shown. The fireplace 60, likefireplace 30, has a heat exchanger with two inlets 14 and 15. The bottomgrill 15 supplies stale room air for combustion in combustion chamber 13as well as dilution of the exhaust gases. The inlet 14 supplies room airfor dilution of the mixed exhaust gases which pass into the exhaust duct11B at approximately 270 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on theamount of excess combustion air and dilution supplied in inlets 14 and15. As will be explained later, this amount of dilution may becontrolled in a tight house. The exhaust gases in exhaust duct 11B arecooled to approximately no more than 220 degrees Fahrenheit before beingpassed into a novel cross flow air-to-air heat exchanger 51. The arrowsin the heat exchanger show the exhaust gases pass diagonally intoin-line blower 54 and force the cooled exhaust gases out of duct 55 atapproximately 118 degrees Fahrenheit. There is shown a fresh air intakeduct for outside air 56 supplying air into the heat exchanger 51 viain-line blower 57 which forces the preheated outside air into duct 58which is connected to the aforementioned plenum 44A that serves as thesupply return to the central hot air furnace 45. The furnace 45 has itsown blower and heats the air which is supplied to supply duct 46 throughair conditioning coil 47 into the previously explained supply duct 46.The air conditioning system 53 is shown having a supply S and a return Reven though the air conditioning coils 47 are not cooled during theheating season. The novel heat exchanger 51 is preferably made from ahigh heat conductivity metal such as aluminum and comprises a pluralityof spaced plates sealed one from another to permit an efficient crossflow heat exchanger. Such heat exchangers made of aluminum are capableof operation as high as 500+ degrees Fahrenheit in the preferredembodiment.

In this embodiment, a controller 59 preferably is capable of operatingthe blower motors 57 and 54 at predetermined speeds to achievepredetermined desired cubic foot displacements of make-up air andexhaust air in the system. For example, if motor 54 is run at a slowerspeed the exhaust gases in exhaust stack 11B increase in temperature.The exhaust motor 54 only needs to be operated to a speed which exhauststhe desired amount of make-up air plus combustion air into the system.Similarly, the blower motor 57 only needs to supply the amount of freshair needed for combustion and make-up. It is not intended that motors 54and 57 be operated at variable speeds over a long period of time. It ispreferred that the motors be set to operate at desired displacementspeeds when the fireplace 60 is on and the blower in central air furnace45 may be operated independently of the make-up system which passesthrough the fireplace.

Referring to FIG. 7, a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of a co-linearfireplace 70 adapted to pass its exhaust gases through theaforementioned novel air-to-air cross flow heat exchanger 51 is shown.When the fireplace 70 is on, it takes outside fresh air in through duct61 and bums the air in the combustion chamber 13 and passes theundiluted exhaust gas into exhaust duct 11B at approximately 600 degreesFahrenheit where it cools on its passageway to the novel cross flow heatexchanger 51. The exhaust gases pass through the in-line blower 54 andare exhausted through exhaust duct 55 to the outside. In thisembodiment, the blower 57 sucks in air from the house at 60 to 80degrees Fahrenheit and passes it into the return duct 58 after beingpreheated in the heat exchanger 51. The preheated house air is passedinto the central hot air furnace 45 where it is heated again and forcedinto the supply duct 46 through air conditioning coils 47 and into therooms.

In one embodiment of this invention, it may be possible to control theblower motor 57 in a manner where it creates a negative pressure in aroom or area in which it is located so that either the bleeder 49 orleaks in a loose house supply the sufficient make-up air desired for airquality. However, if the house is new and of tight construction it couldbe necessary to place a remote heat pump in the system as shown anddescribed in FIGS. 4 and 5 in order to supply the deficiency of make-upair for quality air conditions. Blower 54 acts to induce outsidecombustion air into combustion chamber 13.

Referring to FIG. 8, a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of anembodiment of a heat exchange system 100 used to heat combustion wasteproducts is shown. The heat exchange system 100 can be used in anystructure, such as residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

The heat exchange system 100 includes a heated products source 180, anexhaust duct 111, an intake duct 158, and a heat exchanger 151. Theheated products source 180, such as an appliance, can generate wastegases and particulates upon combustion of gas/air mixtures or fromburning fuels such as wood. Examples of waste products include carbondioxide, carbon monoxide, excess heat, particulates such as smoke, aswell as any other unwanted product of combustion. The heated productssource uses stale room air for combustion. Examples of gas and electricappliances that generate heated waste products include, but are notlimited to, furnaces, hot water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, andfireplaces.

As shown in FIG. 8, the heated products source generates waste exhaustgases (indicated with arrows) that pass into the exhaust duct 111 andtravel through the heat exchanger 151 before exiting an outer wall 102of the structure through an exhaust duct outlet 155. Alternatively, theheat exchanger can be located outside the outer wall of the structure.

The fresh outside air enters the structure through an intake duct inlet156, which then passes through the intake duct 158. The intake duct 158supplies fresh or make-up air to the structure which passes the outsideair through the heat exchanger 151 where it is heated. After passingthrough the heat exchanger 151, the heated outside air continues totravel through the intake duct 158. The intake duct 158 can beconnected, for example, to additional ductwork, to appliances, or canact as a heat dump within the structure. Optionally, when acting as aheat dump, the portion of the intake duct that extends from the heatexchanger and contains the heated outside air can be removed such thatthe heated outside air is delivered into the structure directly from theheat exchanger.

FIG. 8 shows the exhaust duct 111 coupled directly to the heatedproducts source 180. Alternatively, the exhaust duct can be positionedaway from the heated products source and collect waste products with,for example, a kitchen stove hood attachment that acts to couple theheated products source and exhaust duct. In other applications, theexhaust duct can be contained entirely within the heat exchanger. Forexample, a heat exchanger defining an exhaust opening can be coupled toa ceiling or roof of a structure. The waste products can rise or bedrawn to and enter the exhaust duct located within the heat exchangerthrough the exhaust opening. As the waste products pass through theexhaust duct, heat is transferred to fresh outside air entering thestructure.

Stale room air used for heated products source 180 combustion, tobalance the pressure within the structure, and/or for exchange withfresh outside air can be drawn into the heated product source 180through vents or openings within the structure of the heated productssource. The stale air can be drawn into the heated products source by,for example, pressure differentials or through in-line blowers. In someappliances, the heated products source may not require stale room forcombustion. For example, heated products sources, such as electricstoves and clothes dryers, do not combust gas/air mixtures and the staleroom air is used only to balance pressure and exchange the stale airwith fresh air.

Alternatively, more than one heated product source can be employedwithin the structure. Waste gases from each of the heated productsources can be passed into a common exhaust duct, as shown in FIG. 10and hereinafter described in greater detail. A common exhaust ductreduces the number of exhaust outlets that need to be cut through theouter wall of the structure.

Referring to FIG. 9, a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of anotherembodiment of a heat exchange system 200 is shown. The heat exchangesystem includes a heated products source 280, a furnace 245 having anoptional air handler, an exhaust duct 211, an intake duct 258, a roomsupply duct 246, and a heat exchanger 251. Fresh outside air passes intothe intake duct 258 through an intake duct inlet 256. The fresh airtravels through the heat exchanger 251 and into a room supply duct 246that is connected to furnace 245 as the heated outlet thereof andprovides heated air to the structure. The outside air is heated withinthe heat exchanger 251 from the heat carried by waste products generatedby the heated products source 280. The waste products pass from theheated products source 280 into the exhaust duct 211, through the heatexchanger 251, where heat exchange occurs with the outside air, and exitthe structure out the exhaust duct outlet 255.

Referring to FIG. 10, a diagrammatic drawing in elevation of anotherembodiment of a heat exchange system 300 having multiple heated productsources 380A and 380B is shown. Other embodiments can include any numberof heated product sources. The heat exchange system 300 is shown locatedin a house 390, but can be used in other structures as well. As shown inFIG. 10, one heated products source is a furnace 380A and the other ishot water heater 380B. Alternatively, the heated product sources can beany other appliance that is used with the structure. Each heated productsource can include exhaust ducts 311A and 311B, which are coupled to acommon exhaust duct 311. Optionally, the common exhaust duct 311 can beconnected to receive stale air from a room air exhaust duct 311C, whichcan be exhausted from the structure. Alternatively, the room air exhaustduct 311C can be connected back to the furnace as return ducts and intoa return air plenum 344. The common exhaust duct 311 passes through aheat exchanger 351 where it transfers heat to the fresh outside airpassing through an intake duct 358. The waste products are thenexhausted from the structure out an exhaust duct outlet 355. The outsideair is supplied to the structure and the intake duct 358 through intakeduct inlet 356. After heat exchange, the heated outside air passes intoa heated air supply duct 346 of the furnace 380A for distribution to thestructure. Alternatively, the heated outside air can be passed from theintake duct 358 into the return air plenum 344.

The heat exchangers 151, 251, and 351, shown in FIGS. 8-10, arepreferably air-to-air exchangers made of the materials and constructedas described for the heat exchanger 51 of FIG. 6. The heat exchangers151, 251, and 351 can be a single, double, or multiple pass system tomaximize heat transfer and efficiency. Optionally the heat exchangesystems 100, 200, and 300, shown in FIGS. 8-10, can include one ormultiple in-line blowers and a controller that are incorporated into theheat exchange system as was described for the embodiment shown in FIG.6. Alternatively, the in-line blowers can be housed outside of the heatexchanger. The optional in-line blowers and controller can regulateoutside air being brought into the structure through the intake duct andforce exhaust gases out of the structure. Preferably, a negativepressure is maintained on the exhaust side of the heat exchanger, whichprohibits waste products from being drawn into the intake duct locatedwithin the heat exchanger if a leak should occur.

The heat exchanger can be constructed for use in any size structure. Forexample, a heat exchanger can be made that provides sufficient heatexchange for a house. In another application, a larger heat exchangercan be constructed to provide, for example, heat exchange in a largeindustrial factory that generates significant excess heat duringmanufacturing.

Having explained embodiments of the present invention and modificationsthereof, it will be understood that presently designed and manufacturedhigh production fireplaces may, for example, be coupled into existingheating systems in homes that have forced air furnaces so as to createnot only an efficient heating system, but a system which suppliesmake-up air for a quality air system in a very efficient manner.Embodiments of the present invention can be provided with variable speedmotors and controls which allow the installers of such systems to useuniversal equipment to achieve precise and exacting predeterminedstandards for different types of structures, for example, houses, madeto different tightnesses and specifications. Thus, the present inventionpermits a builder of houses to select universal components that areproduced at high efficiency and low cost for installation without havingto engineer and manufacture a custom system.

Having explained the problem of maintaining heat efficiency in tightstructures, such as houses, having hot air fireplaces and hot airfurnaces, it will be appreciated that the introduction of a requiredamount of cold outside air to maintain air quality can decidedly reducethe heat efficiency of the fireplace and/or the heating system.Accordingly, there is provided a high efficiency heat exchange systemthat preheats the fresh air using the hot exhaust gas from a gasfireplace and/or the fireplace heat exchanger and/or other heatedproduct sources to preheat the air without unbalancing the temperatureof the rooms or the system. The outside fresh air is preheated in amanner which will permit easy modification of existing fireplace/furnacesystems as well as the installation of the present novel system in newhomes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat exchange system for heating outside airprovided to a structure, comprising: an exhaust duct to remove heatedexhaust products from the structure, wherein the heated exhaust productsare generated by a heated products source; an intake duct to supplyoutside air to the structure; and a heat exchanger coupled to the heatedproducts source through the exhaust duct and coupled to the outside airthrough the intake duct, wherein the exhaust duct and the intake ductpass through the heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heated exhaustproducts to the outside air.
 2. The heat exchange system of claim 1,wherein the heated products source comprises an appliance.
 3. The heatexchange system of claim 1, further comprising an intake duct in-lineblower housed in the intake duct to regulate outside air intake into thestructure.
 4. The heat exchange system of claim 1, further comprising anexhaust duct in-line blower housed in the exhaust duct to regulate theremoval of heated exhaust products from the structure.
 5. The heatexchange system of claim 1, further comprising a controller to regulatethe supply of outside air to the structure.
 6. The heat exchange systemof claim 1, further comprising a controller to regulate the removal ofheated exhaust air from the structure.
 7. The heat exchange system ofclaim 1, further comprising a controller and a pair of in-line blowersto regulate air pressure within the structure, wherein the controllerindependently controls each of the in-line blowers.
 8. The heat exchangesystem of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange system is housed within thestructure.
 9. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the structureis a home.
 10. A heat exchange system for heating outside air providedto a structure, comprising: an exhaust duct to remove heated exhaustproducts from the structure, wherein the heated waste products aregenerated by a heated products source; an intake duct to supply outsideair to the structure; and a heat exchanger coupling the exhaust duct andthe intake duct to transfer heat from the heated exhaust products to theoutside air, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to the heatedproducts source through the intake duct and the exhaust duct and theheat exchanger is provided in a remote location from the heated productssource.
 11. The heat exchange system of claim 10, further comprising acontroller and a pair of in-line blowers coupled to the heat exchangerto regulate air quality within the structure, wherein the controllerindependently controls each of the in-line blowers.
 12. The heatexchange system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust duct is a common exhaustduct to remove the heated exhaust products from the structure, whereinthe heated exhaust products are generated by the heated products sourceand one or more additional heated products sources.
 13. A method ofheating outside air supplied to a structure comprising the steps of:generating heated exhaust products of combustion from a heated productssource; passing the heated exhaust products from the heated productssource into an exhaust duct; conducting the heated exhaust productswithin the exhaust duct and through a heat exchanger prior to exhaustionof the heated exhaust products from the structure, wherein the heatexchanger is provided in a location remote from the heated productssource; passing outside air into an intake duct to supply the outsideair to the structure; conducting the outside air within the intake ductand through the heat exchanger prior to supplying the structure with theoutside air; passing the intake duct and the exhaust duct through theheat exchanger; and coupling the intake duct and the exhaust duct withinthe heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heated exhaust products tothe outside air.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the stepof exhausting the heated exhaust products from the structure.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising the step of moving the heatedexhaust products with an exhaust duct in-line blower.
 16. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising the step of moving the outside air with anintake duct in-line blower.
 17. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising the step of supplying heated outside air to the structure.18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of regulatingthe pressure within the structure with a pair of in-line blowers housedwithin the intake duct and the exhaust duct.
 19. The method of claim 13,wherein the step of regulating the pressure within a structure furthercomprises controlling the pair of in-line blowers with a controller.